Architect of paradise (PART I: Out of the Ruins)

21. Fighting for honor

     I didn't know that a meeting with him, it could be so productive. From that day in the clinic, I could see that Simon started watching me. I don't know what kind of scenarios would come through his mind but I could understand, that he was trying to uncover something. My gaze was indeed something for my past life and it was something suspicious. However, I didn't know the reason that he was trying to discover the truth.

Before I go to the library in the mornings, I could see him watching from far away. When I get into the building, he could go to school. At noon, I could see him through the window watching from the other side of the road and of course, when I was off work and going home or at the clinic.

When I told Alice about him, she started laughing.

-"You showed him your demonic gaze, of course he is suspicious. I can guarantee that he found your gaze more original than that of his gang members." Alice says and laughs.

-"I had no other choice. You said that I should talk to him but right now, I can't say anything mellow to him. He won't trust me." Alice smiles at me.

-"It was good thinking." She says.

-"If he spends his time following you, then he is not with the gang. That way, police can do its job." She explains. She is right, so I let him continue with his watching.

In the meantime, Mr. Gale and Miss Donald were at Harrisonburg and were co-operating with the police of the city. Mr. Gale gave some information to them about the gang. It looks like the gang had some connection with Simon's father. He was doing some jobs for them and because they wanted a guarantee for his loyalty, they approached his son. When they followed Mr. Spencer, they found some illegal transactions in the mountains with drugs.

For that reason, the two departments were co-operating for days, until they found the proof so they could arrest them. They burst into their hideout. It was a big crash and some of them managed to get out. However, police could find them. Mr. Gale could now arrest Mr. Spencer. He didn't do that earlier so that he could use him to catch the rest of the gang.

The news travelled to the whole town and they surprised everyone. They knew that Mr. Spencer was not a good man, but they didn't believe that he was a criminal. However, some of the town folks started to isolate Simon. They were thinking that the apple will fall under the same tree. Everybody knew that he was with some gang members already.

When Mr. Spencer was arrested, he was there. His father tried to react and when he saw his son doing nothing started yelling.

-"Betrayer!!!" He shouted. Mr. Gale took the teenager at the police station, so he could testify. However, he didn't.

I got inside the police station with Alice. Mr. Gale told me that Simon was a member of the gang but because he was not there, when the illegal transactions were taking place, he was not going to be prosecuted. However, he should be punished for his misdemeanors. He was underage so the prosecutor impose to him some social service. For that reason, I was there and of course for another reason.

-"Simon, you are underage, so you need a guardian until you become an adult."

-"I don't need anybody!!!" He shouts at me. He is angry because he lost his shelter and his father.

-"So what are you going to do? Be a member of another gang, or are you going to be a criminal? Is that how you value your life?"

-"Value my life? My life has no value..."

-"You are wrong!!! You are a strong and smart kid. If you try a little bit, you can be whatever you want! You can have whatever you want, without be an outcast. Don't you have dreams or ambitions. Even if you don't, you have time to create some!!!" I yell at him. I don't show him my demonic gaze, but a very determined one.